Coupler



Ap '1954 J. o. DAVIS ETAL COUPLER Filed July 15 1950 Patented Apr. 13, 1954 COUPLER James 0. Davis, Altadena, and William Eckardt, La Canada, Calif., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to The Hardie Manufacturing Company, Hudson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 15, 1950, Serial No. 174,044

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an improved pipe coupler especially useful in connecting large diameter pipes as used for irrigation purposes.

It is desirable to provide a coupler which allows quick and easy attachment and detachment of various large diameter pipe sections and yet with resulting watertight connections. It is particularly desirable to provide a coupler of this type which may be used at night where the latching elements may not be visible.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates the provision of novel latching means which may be quickly engaged and disengaged, and once engaged provides a good look to prevent accidental or inadvertent separation of the component pipe sections and associated coupling.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved pipe coupler of this character featured by the novel latching mechanism, the component parts of which may be moved to locking position either in the day or at night when the parts may not be visible.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved latching means which assures a good lock between the pipe section and its coupling element, and particularly prevents the pipe sections from rotating about its axis in such pipe coupler.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in plan elevation of an improved pipe coupler with large diameter pipes inserted therein, one of such pipe sections being latched to the coupler with improved latching means embodying important features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view taken substantially on the line .'i3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figures 1 and 3.

Referring to Figure 1, the elements shown therein comprise essentially the coupler ID with the pipe sections of large diameter l I, I2 extending therein. The pipe section II is maintained in semi-permanent fixed position within the coupler I by means of a split clamp which includes the pedestal l3 having a pair of apertured ears l3A, I3A thereon, with the apertured portions of such ears in registry with apertured portions IDA, IDA of coupler ll], there being provided bolts l4, passing through the aligned apertures in the members l8, 13 for purposes of clamping the pipe section H within the coupler It.

Referring specifically to Figure 2, it is observed that the chevron type of resilient gasket it disposed in an annular recess in the pipe coupler it presses against the inserted end of the pipe section II to provide a watertight pressure seal between the coupler ID and the pipe section Hi. It is observed that this sealing member it, due to the particular position of its V-slot EBA therein, with the open end of the V facing the center of the coupling [0, tends to expand more and more to provide a better seal, the greater the water pressure within the coupler I0.

The other pipe section I2 is arranged for quick attachment and detachment to and from the coupler Ill by the means described presently which forms an important part of the present invention.

The pipe section I2 has mounted thereon the split ring I'I, opposite adjacent ends l'lA, llB thereof extending radially outwardly and in spaced relationship, and having aligned apertures therethrough through which a clamping bolt it passes to secure such split ring I! on the pipe 12.

The ring l'l pivotally mounts the latching link l9, which is adapted to cooperate with the bifurcated latching lock [00 integrally formed with the coupler It. To secure such pivotal mounting of the link 19, which is in the form of a plate, there is provided on such link IS a pair of axle portions ISA, B, which extend perpendicular from the plane of the member l9 and which pass through aligned apertures in the spaced portion HA, HB, respectively, of the split clamping ring ll.

This latching member i9 is biased for counterclockwise movement in Figure 2 about the axis of its axles [9A, 193 by spring means which may take different forms and shapes and, for example, as shown herein, may comprise a spring wire 2?] bent in the form of a hairpin to straddle the link [9 and with intermediate portions of legs of the hairpin encircling the axles [9A, liiE, and with the extremities of such legs bearing against the pipe section l2, as shown in Figure 2, for purposes of biasing the latching link If! for rotation in the counterclockwise direction. Such counterclockwise motion of the link I9 is limited by an intermediate portion of the link I9 engaging the clamping bolt I8.

portion IOE which separates the bifurcated por tions 10F, IOG of the bifurcated latch lock igg These bifurcated portions IOF, mg define aninterrupted groove with whicli'thela'tch'arms I90 I9D may engage. The hooked the pipe section l2 about it allowing some limited movement whereby such pipe section may align itself. l Movmntofl the pipe section l2 along its longitudinal dir on out of the pipe coupler, I0 is limited, of couis g by the spaced arms [90, L91), engaging respectea'ibove' formed onthe lower portions"Hlli w type oifresilient gasket 2!, siwitl iri tl ie I -upler' It], acts 4. can h' n. btden fl 9 pr vid qodfs lih r f- 1 he. attachm nt; or the uelgrj 11 ap n eg lly" formed jwith" the p tio'nlfll l, as shown in "disposed adjalgid it the ,4 Fu led jlilan DIWhich -there may plate 22 which, blblit the axis a tappedghole 1 OP it-1 1 re ell df mo at 2:: ,1 Ii axis: although pects and, therefore, the aim the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

I 1'. In a coupling for a pairhof telescoping memhers; a latchl'link having an end headportion and an opposite end pivotally mounted on one of the members on an axis transverse to the memhers; a pair of latch arms extending transversely of the head end and on opposite sides of said head end; a cooperating latch part carried by theoth emberIand defining a groove engagearms, said groove having an A por limiting unlatching movement of theh'ad end, said overhanging portion having a slot toipermit entry of the head portionfer latching engagement; and an abutment carried by said other member and extending past the free end of oneof the latch arms, and alignmg theslot and' th ef when the abutment engages said free end;

2-. in a coupling for a pair of telescoping mermr a h k. ha n eel n head o tien and an opposite end pivotally mounted on one 0511.119; m mb rs n n axis rans e. o he member ar if ai hi rmsextending ra s: ers ly; f t g d; m. anio o site ci ofsaid head. end; a cooperatinglatchpart c e y. he the member an efini a mov n a e-ab y t e. tharma aid. roove hering an overhanging portion limiting unlatching q i m t. f, he head and aid; o e an ng; q i nfha in slo o, s'z it en o he head portion for latching engagement; means. limiting relative inward telescoping movement of he mem ers o a mi wher thev rms clean saidoverhanging portion; and an abutment .car ried by said other member andextending past. the free end oi oneofl the latcharms, and- "aligns-t m the s ndth head en e abutment e ga es aid r' en ncl,

l Qqll ng for a. Dairy-of telescoping mem r t h nkhavina l an d Por io Y, a lyu edama f i ll e j b rs an nz z isltr nsv h tmeme' bers; a pair of latch arms extending transversely f. he eadmn n p si es-i' e a ead 1d: wwpwfiine etehar w arriei y? as t m s d 15 r w? ns-I a ea a eb a he l ic fzarma am. rg izee g n ver n in e al m tin ma ev m nt-qfl h r ead. l d. id ye han 6 tion havinga s1 t topermit entry ollithem b ioe oa chin g m n a ivdq; abutmentcarried by'said other memberand-post gn ble abqut: voiriqa xi n a a t hen re' end of one of th e latch arms, and alignin the agw ee t e-abutment a es slot and t aid-" re References Cited in the file of this patent 'lSEEATESwPATENTS- 

